What other biblical passages emphasize the importance of following God's specific instructions? Setting the Scene: God’s Blueprint in Exodus 26:8 “The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the eleven curtains shall have the same measurements.” God gave Moses exact dimensions for the tabernacle curtains. Nothing was left to guesswork, because every detail carried meaning and pointed to God’s holiness. Scripture consistently reinforces this principle: when the Lord speaks, His people are to follow His instructions precisely. Old Testament Snapshots of Careful Obedience • Genesis 6:14-22 – Noah “did everything that God commanded him” when building the ark, detail by detail. • Exodus 40:16 – “Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.” • 1 Kings 6:11-14 – Solomon built the temple “according to all that I command you,” preserving the pattern God revealed to David. • 2 Chronicles 29:15 – Hezekiah’s priests “consecrated themselves according to the command of the king, by the words of the LORD.” Sober Warnings When Instructions Are Ignored • Leviticus 10:1-3 – Nadab and Abihu offered “unauthorized fire” and died before the LORD. • Numbers 20:7-12 – Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it; the consequence was exclusion from the promised land. • 1 Samuel 15:22-23 – Saul spared Amalekite spoil; Samuel declared, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” • 2 Samuel 6:6-7; 1 Chronicles 15:13 – Uzzah touched the ark, and God struck him because “we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” Illustrations of Victory Through Exact Obedience • Joshua 6:2-20 – Jericho’s walls fell only after Israel marched and shouted exactly as instructed. • 2 Kings 5:10-14 – Naaman was healed when he dipped seven times, no more, no less, in the Jordan. • 1 Kings 18:30-38 – Elijah rebuilt the altar “in the name of the LORD,” soaking it with water as directed, and fire fell from heaven. New Testament Echoes • Matthew 7:24-27 – The wise builder “hears these words of Mine and acts on them,” standing firm. • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • John 15:10 – “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love.” • Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit shows that exact obedience matters in the church age as much as in the wilderness. Link Back to Hebrews 8:5 Moses was warned, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” The tabernacle was a “copy and shadow” of heavenly realities, so precision was essential. Living It Out Today The same God who cared about curtain cubits still cares about how His people respond to His Word. Obedience is not legalism; it is love expressed in action. As we study Scripture, we look for His clear commands and patterns—and then, like Moses and Noah, do “just as the LORD has commanded.” |
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